Posts Categorized: Weddings

The wedding is the first step to a lifetime of joy and happiness together. That's why the SAN DIEGAN has taken the time to extensively research these venues, so you can have the perfect wedding.Browse through the wonderful selection of romantic and scenic venues, whether on the bay, with a vineyard view or in a romantic hotel, this will be your day to remember. If you're looking for a premier hair and makeup artist for your wedding, look no further than Cindy Rankin. If you're in the military or a veteran, there are also some locations that might be a perfect fit for you here.

Hotel Coral & Marina on the Tijuana to Ensenada road just north of Ensenada, km 103, at 3421 Zona Playitas Ensenada. For reservations call direct (01152-646-175-0000) or toll free (800-862-9020) or (877-233-5839). Rate schedule for this 147-room, all suite hotel with ocean-view balconies is (varies). Discover an exclusive getaway in Baja California at Hotel Coral &… Read more »

Once you step aboard one of these yachts you’ll immediately realize that any occasion is a special occasion when you book a fun boat adventure celebration aboard either their 63 foot yacht charter or their 42 foot yacht. And with their low reasonable rates, it’s more than affordable to take a cruise or have a… Read more »

Bring your furry friend to Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill in Coronado and sit out on the deck over the water with the sea breezes, delicious seafood and inviting ambience.The Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill is new to San Diego County, but it is not new to Orange County, Phoenix, Arizona, Catalina Island or Temecula in the… Read more »

A visit to the Temecula Wine Country isn’t complete without a stop at Up Your Alley, located just off the 15 in Old Town. With 2000 square feet of shopping bliss, almost every customer that enters the store declares it “my favorite boutique EVER.” Formerly of La Jolla Carlsbad and Del Mar, Up Your Alley’s… Read more »

The focus of this impressive museum is to present a nostalgic walk through the past 100 years of American music and music-making. Featured are more than 500 vintage instruments. Plus, there are lots of interactive exhibits and hundreds of audio and video clips. This is an educational adventure for everyone! General admission is ($10); seniors,… Read more »

Falkner Winery specializes in high quality wines with over 80% earning Gold or Silver medals in wine competitions. So while you may be tempted to stop at the first winery that you see in Temecula wine country, be sure to plan to make a stop at the Falkner Winery for wine tasting and lunch at their… Read more »

Sycuan Golf Resort offers incredible variety as the only 54-hole golf facility in San Diego. Situated in the beautiful hills of east San Diego, the three Ted Robinson designed courses feature mature tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, water features and impeccable greens. No matter if you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, the two challenging 18-hole… Read more »

Old Mission San Luis Rey at 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside (760-757-3651) is known as the King of the Missions. It is the largest of the 21 missions that flourished here in the 1700s and 1800s. It’s the majestic jewel of early California history. The museum is open daily 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Prices for self-guided tours… Read more »

The fascinating floating museum at the Embarcadero consists of six historic ships and two submarines: the Star of India, which is the oldest active sailing ship in the world, the steam ferry Berkeley, the steam yacht Medea, the San Diego Harbor Pilot, also an actual Soviet-era diesel B-39 submarine and the deepest-diving submarine ever, a… Read more »

Old Town Mexican Cafe and Cantina, 2489 San Diego Ave., Old Town (619-297-4330) [oldtownmexcafe.com]. Open Sun.–Thurs., 7 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri.–Sat., 7 a.m.–midnight ($8–$15). Happy hour Mon.–Fri., 3 p.m.–7 p.m. and 10 p.m. till closing. Bar is open daily till 1 a.m. And their popular Taco Tuesdays run all day long. This year is their 36th… Read more »

Phuong Trang Vietnamese Restau­rant, 4170 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa (858-565-6750) [phoungtrangrestaurant.com]. Open daily serving lunch and dinner. Sun.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ($3.95–$14.95) with family dinner combination for two–10 people from ($18.95–$129.95). While it is great to dine at this restaurant on your own or as a couple, many guests… Read more »

If you’re looking for a truly unique venue in the Gaslamp, the House of Blues San Diego on Fifth is sure to please. As San Diego’s premier restaurant and entertainment venue, the artistic environment celebrates African-American cultural contributions of blues music and folk art like never before. In the decorative music hall patrons can find… Read more »

Heritage of the Americas Museum, located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego at 12110 Cuyamaca College Dr. West off of Jamacha Rd. (619-670-5194) [heritageoftheamericasmuseum.com]. Open Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sat. noon- 4 p.m. Admission for adults is ($3); seniors (55 and over) ($2), children 17 years and younger, students… Read more »

The Sheraton La Jolla Hotel is a low-rise resort-style hotel encompassing 7.5 acres of tropical beauty. We are just a 10-minute drive from spectacular beaches, tide pools, the famous Torrey Pines Golf Club, snorkeling and sunbathing at romantic La Jolla Cove and the Pacific Ocean. Step out their doors and walk to theaters, restaurants, and… Read more »

Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites is ideally located on Shelter Island, San Diego’s own Hawaiian Isle. This tropical resort-style San Diego hotel, framed by America’s Cup Harbor and the San Diego Bay, offers breathtaking views of the hotel’s private marina and downtown San Diego. Their tranquil setting is just minutes from the airport and… Read more »

We invite you to enjoy a professional, private charter aboard the Inspiration, complete with a full staff, a stocked bar, beautiful décor, and endless amenities, for any occasion, including: The Inspiration may be rented to cruise the harbor or to stay dockside. If you choose to cruise the beautiful San Diego Bay, our professional staff… Read more »

Mission Trails Regional Park is the largest of the City of San Diego’s parks and is the third gem of the city’s park system. Mission Trails is larger than Mission Bay and Balboa parks combined. At 5,800 acres, it is the largest open space urban park west of the Mississippi. It includes two lakes, a… Read more »

Aryana Restaurant & Bar (6) at the Holiday Inn Oceanside Marina, is the first and only hotel in Oceanside with an on-site restaurant. It’s a delicious discovery. Don’t let the fact that the dining room is small and cozy fool you because their master chef is indeed a wizard when it comes to producing star-quality… Read more »

Flagship Cruises & Events, a San Diego Harbor Excursion luxury brand, has a premiere fleet of yachts available for booking private charters and event cruises. It has luxury yacht charter packages for weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, group outings and more. Each package can be customized and consists of stellar service, gourmet food prepared on… Read more »

Hornblower Cruises & Events in partnership with San Diego Natural History Museum, 970 N. Harbor Dr., at the Embarcadero, downtown San Diego (619-686-8715) [hornblower.com]. Grey whale and dolphin watching year round with departures at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. Tours are three-and-a-half hours long and include a video and whale exhibits featuring fossils. Cost is… Read more »

Casino Pauma is a North County favorite, because it’s smaller in size compared to the other casinos. This is a very appealing aspect for many people because big is not always better. You’ll also be greeted by a friendly door man with a smile and a warm greeting. Yes, Casino Pauma is a friendly place. A palm tree-lined road greets guests to Casino Pauma and its comfortable 42,500-sq. ft. facility. More than 1,050 state-of-the-art slot machines are featured here at Casino Pauma along with exciting table games including poker, roulette, ($5) blackjack 24-hours a day, Lucky Lady’s Bonus Blackjack, Emperor’s Challenge Pai Gow Poker, and no limit Texas Hold ’em tournaments. The Poker Room opens at 5 p.m. Mon.–Thurs. and at 2 p.m. Fri.–Sun.

Harrah’s is well-known for having the best casinos and hotels nationwide. So you definitely won’t be disappointed with your discovery of this casino with all its gaming and entertainment venues. For the color and excitement of a Las Vegas style casino, Harrah’s Rincon has it all. Of course they offer state-of-the-art gaming including 2,000 slot machines, more than 59 table games and a 12 table poker room where the action never stops! Harrah’s Rincon also offers unique games like Rincon Craps and Volcanic Roulette Bingo.

Moments away from downtown San Diego, Sycuan Casino and Resort is the premiere daycation destination for San Diegans. Set amidst 425-plus lush acres, surrounded by picturesque mountain terrain, there are wonderful areas to walk around and take in the sites. This 305,000-sq. ft. casino is open 24 hours a day with 2,000 Vegas-style slot machines, a smoke-free poker room and a 51-table gaming room.

Soon after Juan Bandini built his thatch-roofed adobe family home, 1827–29, it became the social center of San Diego. Bandini himself was often seen waltzing gracefully and elegantly across the parlor floor. In 1869, after Bandini’s death, stage master Albert Seeley purchased Bandini’s home and converted it into his family home and a hotel. When… Read more »

Peohe’s Restaurant overlooking downtown San Diego from beautiful Coronado offers delicious fresh seafood selections along with mouthwatering steaks cooked to perfection along with new wave sushi and much, much more. If you haven’t guessed it yet, Peohe’s Restaurant is a one-of-a-kind tropical paradise with breathtaking waterfront views of downtown San Diego’s skyline. It’s the perfect… Read more »

The legendary Hotel del Coronado is located on 28 oceanfront acres on Coronado Island. Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, The Hotel del Coronado has played host to celebrities, presidents and dignitaries from around the world. Today, guests can select accommodations in the historic Victorian Building, in the contemporary Ocean… Read more »

Bali Hai has been a San Diego favorite for seafood fine dining since 1954 because of their delicious seafood served with a breathtaking view of San Diego Bay. If you want to impress your out-of-town guests, bring them here. Entrées to rave about are their Chicken of the Gods, which has been a best seller… Read more »

Definitely plan to discover the impressive Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. This world renowned tennis resort and spa is secluded in the beautiful foothills of Rancho Santa Fe. It has been rated among the top 20 most recommended resorts in the North America in the Reader’s choice poll in Conde Nast Traveler magazine for 2007…. Read more »

Barry Berndes’ 49th Annual San Diegan

We’re the #1 City Guide with personally researched & reviewed content based on the print version of Barry Berndes’ SAN DIEGAN, who appears on the cover of all of his books dining in great restaurants. Since 1969, Barry has been engaged in writing the “Honest Guide” to San Diego, by reviewing every aspect of his hometown including dining in 1,000’s of restaurants. He goes unannounced, paying for his own meals and inspecting the kitchens of each restaurant he reviews. This is your assurance that you will receive the same experience he enjoyed. With over 5 million copies in print, he has gained international recognition with numerous on air interviews and numerous articles written about him. As a result, 6.8 million locals, newcomers and visitors actively follow his recommendations annually online and in print, and so should you.